A Heartfelt Father’s Day Tribute My Dad, My Mr. Darcy, and My Heavenly Father
With Father’s Day coming up, I wanted to take a moment to honor three fathers who have changed my life.
I’ll start with my own father—because I wouldn’t be here without him, and honestly, he’s pretty awesome.
Lessons From My Dad: The Man Who Led by Example
Anyone who knows my dad knows a few things:
- Be careful! He’s about to play a practical joke on you, jump out and scare you, or find a way to make you laugh.
- He’s absolutely going to feed you. Dinner will be followed by dessert, and you’re going to enjoy it.
- He will give you the shirt off his back, fix anything that’s broken, and do it all in record time.
My dad set the bar high when it came to men. He taught me that men should be hard workers, kind, and thoughtful toward their families. He showed me that honoring your commitments and valuing family truly matter.
My dad didn’t teach with words—he often stumbled over them—but he led by example. My mom used to joke that she would ace any written test, while my dad would fail it. But, when someone needed help, they showed up at our door asking for Gary. That speaks volumes about what really matters in life.
His common sense, determination, and work ethic make him unstoppable. His personality and generosity make him irresistible. I’m incredibly grateful to have him as my father.
Whenever I struggled as a teenager, he would sit on my bed and say, “If you want to feel better then find someone to serve.” He wasn’t wrong. And he lived by this advice! His love language has always been service. Although he prefers to be the one in the driver’s seat, doing all the loving. He is a remarkable man. Love you, Daddy!
The Selfless Strength of My Husband Tim
Then there’s Tim. He had to be pretty special for me to marry him—I definitely wasn’t going to settle. And he is.
Tim is the kind of husband and father who consistently puts everyone’s needs above his own. He’s had to learn that taking care of himself is also part of taking care of us. When I became ill, he needed to be strong enough—physically and emotionally—to carry me, so exercise became a part of his routine. He didn’t want to let me down. That’s just a small glimpse of the type man Tim is.
“Selfless” is the perfect word to describe him.
A Funny Story That Says Everything About My Husband
Now, I’m about to tell a story that doesn’t exactly show me in the bravest light—but it highlights just how remarkable my husband is.
One night, I was walking at the park with a friend. We came across a massive toad in the middle of the sidewalk. Those who know me best know this is one of my irrational fears. I froze. We ended up taking the long way around, and I pulled out my phone. My friend asked what I was doing. When I told her I was calling Tim to take care of the “toad situation,” she laughed! She then said, “There’s no way he’ll come to the park just to move a toad.”
Well, much to her surprise—but not mine—a few minutes later, Tim showed up. He didn’t interrupt our walk. He just went to where I said the toad was, removed it from the path. No, he didn’t kill it. He went back home like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She was in shock. I was just grateful.
It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last, that Tim has rescued me from something silly. He rescues me from life on a regular basis—though it’s usually more serious.
He is, quite literally, my knight in shining armor.
Why I Call Him Mr. Darcy: Quiet Strength and Kindness
If you’re a Jane Austen fan, you’ll understand when I say that one of my nicknames for Tim is “Mr. Darcy.” He’s perfectly content to be unseen, quietly serving and helping others. Many who don’t know him well think he’s overly serious or even stern, but once you break through his exterior, you find the kindest heart and the most generous soul. He is witty and tenderhearted. He teases and takes teasing well (thank goodness—or he might not survive me!). And he is fiercely loyal!
I don’t know why I was so blessed to find a real-life Mr. Darcy, but I consider it an honor to be his wife. (Okay, by now you’ve probably figured out what my favorite movie is.)
A Devoted Dad: How Tim Showed Up for Our Children
As a husband, there was never a chore beneath him. As a father, there was no duty he wasn’t willing to take on.
As a dad to boys, he was in his element! But I’ll never forget his reaction when we had our first daughter. He said, “I don’t know what to do with a girl.” He only had brothers and hadn’t spent much time around girls, but he took to it like a pro. He learned how to put little girls’ hair in ponytails. Although I’m not sure he ever let them put makeup on him (ha!). His daughters adored him—and they still do.
You see, he loves them with everything he is and everything he does—and they know it. And that’s the key with children: they know.
People who don’t know Tim well sometimes assume he’s quiet or standoffish. That’s just his shy side. But put him around a little kid, and his eyes light up. He melts like a puddle.
My girls love teasing him because he’s in the bishopric in the ward at our church, which means he sits on the stand on Sundays. They say he always looks serious—unless he sees a little child, and then he smiles. And when Tim smiles for real, it lights up his whole soul. That smile lights up my soul.
Tim is pure goodness.
Living Love Through Service: Tim’s Daily Acts of Devotion
He’s been serving me for 22 years—in ways I never imagined would be necessary. Though we joke about it, he never complains. He’s taken on the full weight of being both mother and father at times. He’s been a caretaker and a nurse. I’ve even joked that he’s my personal pharmacy.
He’s carried me to the bathroom, the car, out of piano recitals, and from church pews. I apologize constantly, but his response is always, “Oh honey, I’d rather have you by my side. I love you!”
It’s humbling.
How did he become so good?
I saw it in him when we were dating. He’d drive two hours just to visit his grandmother. He was dedicated to his family. And He was dedicated to his faith. He lived what he believed—and still does. My children and I are the beneficiaries of that goodness.
He isn’t perfect—but oh, he is good.
My Heavenly Father: The Source of My Strength and Purpose
The last father I want to honor today is my Heavenly Father.
He is the reason I keep going. My life has been filled with trials—so many “whys?” My family is often my motivation to get up, but He is my purpose. Because of Him I know who I am and why I’m really here.
Since I was a little girl, I’ve sung the words: “I am a child of God, and He has sent me here.” I am His.
I learned at a young age that I could talk to Him, that He could hear me, and that He would answer. I’ve felt that tender mercy in my darkest days. He has spoken peace to my soul. He reminds me that He needs me right where I am. He opens my eyes to the things He wants me to do—sometimes just thoughts or quiet impressions, and sometimes something more. Sometimes, it’s overwhelming love from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
My relationship with Him is personal. It is an ongoing, steady dialogue. I want to know Him. I want to understand His will and receive His guidance for me. He is a loving Father, and His counsel is always for my good.
Have you ever asked Him how He feels about you? It’s humbling to sometimes feel, and other times see, witnesses of His love.
When we seek Him, we find Him. Maybe not instantly—but always, eventually.
I find him in the whisper of a prayer. He’s in the love of my family. The kindness of a neighbor. A text from a friend when I need to be seen. A song that plays at just the right moment. A soft breeze on my face like a gentle touch from heaven. The smell of freshly baked bread or my favorite cookie. A hug from a missed friend. Hearing the voice of someone I love. Holding a newborn baby and feeling heaven still clinging to their skin. Watching a sunset and knowing the sun will rise again.
He loves us with all of our senses! He created this beautiful world as evidence of his remarkable love for us!
He knows me. He knows my name! He knows my heart. My desires. My pain. My weakness.
And in all of it, my effort is enough.
I am enough for Him. He wants me. His love and grace are sufficient.
Someday, He will heal me.
Until then—I will not give up. Be still and know that He is God! (Psalms 46:10)
Happy Father’s Day.
1. How do you notice God’s presence in the quiet, everyday moments of your life?
2. What qualities do you most admire in a father or a husband?
3. Who is your “Mr. Darcy”? That quiet, steadfast person who shows love not through words, but through action?
Answer one or answer all three—I’d truly love to hear from you!
Make Home a Place He Wants to Be
